H.S. baseball: Pequannock is No. 10 in Countdown to No. 1

The Record

Last year’s record: 17-10

Final ranking: No. 20

Best assets: The Golden Panthers, traditionally one of North Jersey’s top teams, have brought back five position players who batted .365 or higher from a quality squad that won the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference’s Independence Division title last season. Among them are junior OF Mark Gallo, who hit .449 and was named first team All-NJAC, and senior 3B/P Vince Parrotta, who batted .365, drove in 25 runs and was named second team All-NJAC. Senior 2B AJ Adamczyk (.400) and senior OF Matt Blahut (.462) also should bolster longtime coach Bill Arata’s lineup.

Biggest concerns: Parrotta and fellow seniors Alex Diffin (20 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched) and Dan Short (.440, 15 RBI) gained valuable varsity experience on the mound last season. But the Panthers will have to rely on the overall depth of their pitching staff if this talented team is to reach its potential. They don’t have an established ace, but the Golden Panthers still should contend for another division championship and make noise in the Morris County and state tournaments.

H.S. baseball: Pequannock is No. 10 in Countdown to No. 1

The Record

Last year’s record: 17-10

Final ranking: No. 20

Best assets: The Golden Panthers, traditionally one of North Jersey’s top teams, have brought back five position players who batted .365 or higher from a quality squad that won the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference’s Independence Division title last season. Among them are junior OF Mark Gallo, who hit .449 and was named first team All-NJAC, and senior 3B/P Vince Parrotta, who batted .365, drove in 25 runs and was named second team All-NJAC. Senior 2B AJ Adamczyk (.400) and senior OF Matt Blahut (.462) also should bolster longtime coach Bill Arata’s lineup.

Biggest concerns: Parrotta and fellow seniors Alex Diffin (20 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched) and Dan Short (.440, 15 RBI) gained valuable varsity experience on the mound last season. But the Panthers will have to rely on the overall depth of their pitching staff if this talented team is to reach its potential. They don’t have an established ace, but the Golden Panthers still should contend for another division championship and make noise in the Morris County and state tournaments.